Method, system and apparatus

Abstract

A method comprising transmitting beam cluster information to a user equipment, the beam cluster information defining a plurality of beam clusters and beam identification information for each of a plurality of beams in a respective beam cluster of the plurality of beam clusters; and transmitting, to the user equipment, at least one beam based on the beam cluster information.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 receiving, at a user equipment, from an access point, beam cluster information indicating a plurality of beam clusters and corresponding beam identification information for each of a plurality of beams in a beam cluster of the plurality of beam clusters; 
 determining, at the user equipment, reception processing information based on the beam cluster information, wherein the reception processing information is associated with at least one beam of the beam cluster of the plurality of beam clusters, wherein the beam cluster further comprises one or more other beams; and 
 using, at the user equipment, the reception processing information associated with the at least one beam of the beam cluster for receiving the one or more other beams of the beam cluster. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein each beam cluster is associated with a set of antenna ports. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the reception processing information includes antenna port information related to the set of antenna ports. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 receiving, at the user equipment, from the access point, a plurality of reference beams, wherein each reference beam of the plurality of reference beams comprises beam identity information. 
 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of reference beams is received in one or more sweep blocks. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said beam cluster information comprises one or more of: clustered downlink beams, association to a set of one or more antenna ports, cluster size, periodicity of cluster, or information associated with a next available subframe. 
     
     
       7. A user equipment comprising:
 at least one processor; and 
 at least one memory storing instructions therein that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the user equipment to perform at least:
 receiving, at the user equipment, from an access point, beam cluster information indicating a plurality of beam clusters and corresponding beam identification information for each of a plurality of beams in a beam cluster of the plurality of beam clusters; 
 determining, using the user equipment, reception processing information based on the beam cluster information, wherein the reception processing information is associated with at least one beam of the beam cluster of the plurality of beam clusters, wherein the beam cluster further comprises one or more other beams; and 
 using, at the user equipment, the reception processing information associated with the at least one beam of the beam cluster for receiving the one or more other beams of the beam cluster. 
 
 
     
     
       8. The user equipment according to  claim 7 , wherein each beam cluster is associated with a set of antenna ports. 
     
     
       9. The user equipment according to  claim 8 , wherein the reception processing information includes antenna port information related to the set of antenna ports. 
     
     
       10. The user equipment according to  claim 9 , wherein the instructions stored on the at least one memory, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the user equipment to perform at least:
 receiving, at the user equipment, from the access point, a plurality of reference beams, wherein each reference beam of the plurality of reference beams comprises beam identity information. 
 
     
     
       11. The user equipment according to  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of reference beams is received in one or more sweep blocks. 
     
     
       12. The user equipment according to  claim 7 , wherein said beam cluster information comprises one or more of: clustered downlink beams, association to a set of one or more antenna ports, cluster size, periodicity of cluster, or information associated with a next available subframe. 
     
     
       13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform at least:
 receiving, at a user equipment, from an access point, beam cluster information indicating a plurality of beam clusters and corresponding beam identification information for each of a plurality of beams in a beam cluster of the plurality of beam clusters; 
 determining, using the user equipment, reception processing information based on the beam cluster information, wherein the reception processing information is associated with at least one beam of the beam cluster of the plurality of beam clusters, wherein the beam cluster further comprises one or more other beams; and 
 using, at the user equipment, the reception processing information associated with the at least one beam of the beam cluster for receiving the one or more other beams of the beam cluster. 
 
     
     
       14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to  claim 13 , wherein each beam cluster is associated with a set of antenna ports. 
     
     
       15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to  claim 14 , wherein the reception processing information includes antenna port information related to the set of antenna ports. 
     
     
       16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to  claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the processor to perform at least:
 receiving, at the user equipment, from the access point, a plurality of reference beams, wherein each reference beam of the plurality of reference beams comprises beam identity information. 
 
     
     
       17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of reference beams is received in one or more sweep blocks. 
     
     
       18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to  claim 13 , wherein said beam cluster information comprises one or more of: clustered downlink beams, association to a set of one or more antenna ports, cluster size, periodicity of cluster, or information associated with a next available subframe.